Checker game board



G. F. WALES CHECKER GAME BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 13, 1951mwzzvron. GEORGE F. WAL'S s- 24, 1954 G. F. WALES 2,687,305

CHECKER GAME BOARD Filed Oct. 13 1951 2 Sheets-Shem. '2

INVENTOR.

GEORGE F. WALES BY Off-6714.

Patented Aug. 24, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHEGKER. GAME BOARDGeorge F. Wales, Kenmore, N. Y.

Application October 13, 1951, Serial No. 251,169

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to folding checker and like gameboards and moreparticularly to boards of this type which are adapted to retain theplaying pieces or men when the board is folded in the positions to whichthey have been moved in playing the game. Such boards are often sentthrough the mail, using men attached by mechanical ferromagnetic actionin the positions of a game in progress between players at a distancefrom each other. Boards of this type are generally made in two hingedsections enabling the boards to be folded; and they are of small sizefor ease in transportation through the mail or for carrying in thepocket of a garment.

Game boards for playing checkers and chess, regardless of size, andwhether of the folding or non-folding type, have heretofore been madewith flat playing surfaces, with the playing area containing the usualpattern of squares disposed in the plane of the playing surface.Obviously the alternate squares of such a pattern have to be incontrasting color for easy determination of position and correct play.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedgameboard of the folding type which is so constructed that the playingpieces or men may be positively retained in the positions of the playwhen the board is folded or closed.

Another object is to provide man-retaining means so constructed that thefolding of the board positively locks the men against movement.

A related object is to provide a game board in which the men may beretained in selected positions and shipped thus through the mail withoutpossibility of movement out of such positions.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a novelcheckerboard or similar gameboard in which contrasting colors are notrequired for the alternate squares of the playing area in order todiscern and use the playing squares, and, in fact, to provide agameboard in which only one color need be used on the entire playingarea, if so desired, and with which, nevertheless, the squares to beplayed on are easily and quickly distinguished from the otheralternating, non-playing squares.

Another object of the invention is to construct a checkerboard oranalogous game board in which the playing squares are disposed in oneplane and the alternating squares are disposed in a different andpreferably lower plane, whereby, even though all squares are of the samecolor, the playing squares cast the lower squares into shadow such that,under any normal lighting conditions, great contrast between the twosets of squares is present and the playing squares are very readilydistinguished from the other squares.

Another and related object of the invention is to provide a gameboard inwhich, as a result of the arrangement of the two sets of squares indifferent planes as just stated, one set of squares may be made fromprepainted or colored sheet material, such as painted sheet metal, andthe other set may be made from a sheet of material of a different colorto accentuate the contrast between alternate squares of the playing areawhen one sheet is superimposed over the other.

Another resulting object is to provide a game board in which the entireboard, or at least the playing area thereof, may be made by forming thetwo alternating sets of squares from prepainted or colored sheetmaterial of the same or of different colors, thereby eliminating thework and resulting cost of painting or otherwise coloring the playingboard after assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel checkerboardhaving the sets of alternating squares of the playing area in dilferentplanes so that one set of squares may be conspicuously set off from theother by the use of different materials, such as sheet metal or moldedplastic, and to use such materials, either in the same or in differentcolor, so that a very decorative and attractive item results and wherebysales appeal of such commodity is enhanced.

A further and related object is to provide a gameboard that may beproduced by stamping and drawing from sheet metal, or by pressuremolding thermosetting or other types of plastic compositions, to the endthat highly attractive checkerboards may be made at a very low cost.

Another object is to produce checkerboards and similar game boards whichare not only inexpensive to manufacture and of highly attractiveappearance, but with which magnetic men or playing pieces may be used.

Still another object of the invention is to construct a novel foldingcheckerboard having alternating playing squares in different planes sothat the playing areas or platforms alternate with squares or pocketform, whereby the playing platforms and the pocket-squares cooperate,when the board is folded, to form enclosures within which the playingpieces or men are positively confined.

In the drawings forming part of the specification disclosing theinvention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a checkerboard, made according to oneembodiment of this invention, in folded condition;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the board opened and in condition for use;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on an enlarged scale on line3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, showing diagrammatically, certainsteps in stamping out one of the playing sections of the board when theboard is made of sheet metal;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section takenthroug-h theboard in folded or closed position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly insection looking at the hinged side of the board, when it is folded orrclosed;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a different embodiment ofthe invention; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan .view, partly broken away, illustrating yetanother modification of the invention.

The presently chosen, preferred embodiment, .of the invention is shown.in Figures l-fi of the drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate, respectively, the novel folding checkerboardzi-n folded or :closed condition and in \open position for playing.

The checkerboard, designated generally by the reference -B comprises twoidenticalahalvesiorsections 20 of rectangular form-withstraight verticalsides hinged together at 2 2 so as to lie flat when open '(Fig. 2), andto lie one on the other when closed (Fig. 1).

As usual, in folding boards of this character, each half section 28 hasupon what may be termed the top face 244 thereof, when :open, one halfof the playing area or pattern A, and the two half areas mate or matchwith one another along the hinge line, which passes through the centerof the pattern, as clearly shown in Fig. .2.

If desired the complete pattern may :be surrounded, as .shown, with ;amarginal area 26.

In accordance with the invention, the playing area of pattern A isformed in a novel manner to produce the playing positions or Squares andthe alternate squares which run in staggered relation therebetween.

The playing areas or squares consist {of platform P which are disposedin ;a hat plane. The platforms P, if desired, may and preferably are inor formed to be a part of the plane in which the marginal areazt lies.

The other or alternate squares p are located in .a plan at a distancebelow and parallel with the plane of the platforms P with the resultthat the squares p form the bottoms of pockets P. In any ordinary ghtcondi ions the result is that the pockets P are cast into shadow.,,forming what may be termed Shadow l3oxes This condition is such that,even when the entire pattern is of one color, great contrast is effectedbetween the appearance of the upper or platform squares P and the lowersquares or areas 12 of the pockets P.

Thus checkers can easily and comfortably be played by the use of men 22;upon the platforms P without delay or hesitation in distinguishing theplaying squares from the squares below.

The vertical distance between the playing squares or platforms P and thelower squares is slightly greater than the height of men X normally usedon the board. The dimension of the platforms will, of course, vary asthe dimensions of the men, and therefore the size of the board and ofthe squares thereon increases or decreases with the size of the men, butin all cases the area of the men used should be less than the area .maybe turned in at 35', Figures '-1 and 6, to provide sections to which thehinges '22 may be attached, as by rivets or welding (see 38, Figure 6).

The sheet metal pieces just described not only form the bottom of theboard when open, but also act as the cover C for the board when closed,as seen in'Figure l.

The pockets P and the alternating playing platforms P may be produced invarious ways, one desirable construction being shown diagrammatically inFigure 4.

A sheet :M of metal, such as galvanized iron or tin plate, ,previouslycolored if desired, .is stampedor otherwise marked as shown, in .positions corresponding to whatare to be the pockets P of the finishedboard, to form diagonal slits til at angles extending from smallcentral, previously Lcut-outsquares or openings Q2. The outer ends oftheslits ili terminateshort of what will be the corners of the platformsP. By a, further-stamping or drawing operation, the portions of .metalbetween the slits sll are bent at about 90 from the face of the plateand along lines defining approximately the ultimate margins .or edgeportions .of the platforms P.

The result is the provision of legs 154 .(Fig. by which the platforms Pmay be supported upon the inner faces of the bottom or cover walls .33.The margins at the sides and one edge of each plate .M are also bentsimultaneously with the legs ll l and may be of the same length as orslightly shorter than those legs. The length or dimension .of the'legsid in turn is slightly greater than the height of playing pieces or mento be used with the resultinggame'board.

The size .of the finished stamped sheets M just described is preferablysuch that they will fit snugly within the flanges '32 and 3d of the halfsections 2.0, so that the flanges 6 and flanges 32, 34, 36 of the sheetM and stamped members 3% may be secured together in face to facerelation to form the two halves of the ,gameboard.

By the construction described, the platforms P may be supported firmly,face uppermost, in the cover elements 10 with the legs M, which definethe walls of the pockets P, resting against the cover Walls '33 toadequately support and reinforce the platforms and .to enable them towithstand downward pressure. The exposed portions of the inner faces ofsaid cover elements form the bottoms p of the pockets P and the legs Mof adjacent platforms P form the sides of the pockets.

The described procedure in producing the stamped or drawn member to formthe platforms P is such that the edges of the latter are left slightlyrounded, and by terminating the slits 4D short of the corners, asexplained, short portions 53 (Fig. 4) are left to connect the corners ofthe platforms one with another (see Figure 2).

As thus far described, the folded board will have an unfinishedappearance since the inner or hinged edges of the sections 20 will showthe marginal pockets and adjacent platform legs.

This unfinished appearance may be overcome as by the construction shown(see Figures 1 and 5), wherein the hinges 22 at opposite sides of thefolded structure have their flaps or connected portions 52 elongated andcarried across the intervening marginal areas to form closures whichconceal the otherwise exposed inner ends of the sections 20. Othersuitable means however, could be used to effect the desired result.

It should be obvious that, if suitablemetal is used to make at least theelements from which the platforms P are formed, magnetic men may be usedfor play on the board described, and such men will adhere to the playingsurface and not become unintentionally detached therefrom. However,either the bottom wall or cover structure and/or the platform elementcan be made of non-metallic material and non-magnetic men used therewithwithout departing from the novel arrangement of playing platforms orsquares and intervening pockets.

In the arrangement disclosed, an important advantage is attained if menof the same approximate height as the distance between the platformplane and the plane of the bottom wall 30 are used. Such men, when leftin played position, or in any desired arrangement on the platforms ofthe playing squares P, may be effectually retained in such positions andpositively prevented from shifting from such positions when the board isclosed or folded as in Figure 1, for, when the board is folded, eachpocket P of one section fits down upon a corresponding platform P of theother section, enveloping the man on the platform, and providing acomplete closure from which the playing piece cannot possibly escape.(See Figures 5 and 6).

It will be apparent that by making the halves or sections of foldingcheckerboards or other playing boards in two parts inthe mannerdescribed, the inner or playing portion, can be made of suitably coloredsheet metal of a sort where desired, to enable magnetic playing piecesto adhere thereto. The outer or covering portions can also be made ofsheet metal and, if desired, of a different color, or they may be madeof molded plastic or the like material of a different or contrastingcolor. The foregoing relative selection of materials may be reversed ifdesired; or further, both parts could be made of plastic. However,almost unlimited choice is allowed in color selection so that veryattractive boards can be produced without complicated painting orprinting processes.

Instead of making the sections of the checkerboard containing theplaying platforms or squares of sheet metal or the like by a stamping ordrawing procedure as above described, a similar element may be producedby pressure molding of the thermosetting or other plastic material.

A fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a checkboard somade isshown in Figure 7. Here suitable dies or molds are used, so that, whenthe resulting one piece item is removed therefrom, playing squares orplatforms, S alternating with pockets S will result. The platforms Shave integral depending margins or skirts 60 formed continuously withthe skirts in adjacent areas. The pockets S are defined by the openspaces surrounded by the skirts 60 depending from adjacent platforms S.In this manner the interconnecting portions 50a joining the corners ofadjacent squares S will extend to the skirt bottoms and provide a verystrong structure, offering the needed reinforcement and resistance topressure for preventing deflection or breaking of the checkerboard inuse. Of course,

the playing portions of the checkerboard are so cured within coveringportions similar to the covering portions already described, thereby toform the complete, folding board.

While the plastic form just described is not intended .to cooperate withmagnetic playing pieces to retain such men on the board, a similar item,molded of a composition now avail able, and containing iron powder oranalogous magnetically attractive material may be made, which issuitable'for cooperation with magnetic playing pieces.

Another modified construction is shown in Figure 8. In this view aportion of a playing section is shown in which the body is made ofplastic or the like, in the manner of the piece shown in Figure '7.Platforms or playing squares S are here also connected with pendantskirts Gil integrally formed to support the platforms S and to definethe pockets S. In this construction provision is made to enable magneticmen to be used, by molding or embedding iron, steel or other suitablemetal buttons or inserts s in the platforms 8 to lie flush with the topfaces thereof. These inserts or buttons 5' will magnetically cooperatewith and hold metallic men.

While the invention has been described in connection with severaldifferent embodiments thereof, D it is capable of further modifications,and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses oradaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles ofthe invention and including such departures from the present disclosureas come within known or customary practice in the art to which theinvention pertains and as may be applied to the essential featureshereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scope of the invention andthe limits of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A checkerboard comprising an upper, flat sheet of material havingthereon a plurality of playing squares alternating, in staggeredrelation with a plurality of substantially square holes punched out ofsaid sheet, the marginal portions of said sheet around said square holeshaving rounded corners to thereby leave portions of said sheet toconnect adjacent playing squares one to another at the corners thereof,and a second sheet of material below and in spaced parallel relation tothe playing squares of said upper sheet, portions of said second sheetproviding squares alternating with said playing squares, and means forsupporting the playing squares of the first sheet above and in spaced,parallel relation to the second sheet.

2. The combination of playing pieces and a folding checkerboardcomprising two substantially like half sections each including playingplatforms arranged in alternating, staggered relation with depressedpockets, said playing platforms having playing surfaces lying in oneplane, and the bottoms of said pockets lying in a plane below thefirst-named plane, the distance between said two planes being at leastthe height of said playing pieces, the sides of those pockets at amargin of said section adjacent a similar margin of the other sectionbeing open and exposed, each section having an end wall and oppositeside walls, the latter having parts extending inwardly along oppositeend portions of said margin of the I related section, hinge memberssecured to the marginal end portions of the side walls of the respectivesections to pivotally secure said sections, and said hinge membershaving parts positioned over and concealing said exposed pockets, eachof the pockets in either section, when the checker board is folded,resting over a playing platform on the other section, whereby a playingpiece on that platform is completely enclosed and retained againstescape from its position by the cooperative relation between saidplatform and the opposed pocket, and said sections together forming acheckered playing pattern when the checker board is opened.

3. The combination of playing pieces and a checkerboard comprising anupper, fiat sheet of material having thereon a plurality of playingsquares alternating, in staggered relation with a plurality ofsubstantially square holes punched out of said sheet, and a second sheetof material in spaced, parallel relation to and below said first sheet,said first sheet having integral pendant longitudinal and transversewalls bounding said square holes to thereby form pockets which areshadowed by said playing squares, and said second sheet engaging thebottom edges of said pendant walls to form the bottoms of said pockets,said second sheet lying in a plane which is spaced below the plane ofsaid first sheet a distance equal at least to the height of said playingpieces.

4. The combination of playing pieces and a checkerboard comprising anupper, flat sheet of material having thereon a plurality of playingsquares alternating, in staggered relation with a 8. plurality ofsubstantially square holes punched out of said sheet, and a second sheetof material in spaced, parallel relation to and below said first sheet,said first sheet having integral pendant longitudinal and transversewalls bounding said square holes to thereby form pockets which areshadowed by said playing squares, said second sheet engaging the bottomedges of said pendant walls to form the bottoms of said pockets, saidsecond sheet lying in a plane which is spaced below the plane of saidfirst sheet a distance equal at least to the height of said playingpieces, and said playing squares of said first sheet having embeddedtherein fiat magnetically attracted metal inserts with their faces flushwith those of said playing squares whereby magnetic playing pieces mayadhere to said playing squares.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 947,603 Steacy Jan. 25, 1910 1,343,984 Ramsey June 22, 19201,441,386 Truskowski Jan. 9, 1923 1,595,285 Bevan .Aug. 10, 19262,235,615 Hufiaker Mar. 18, .1941 2,399,041 Kleber Apr. 23, 19462,437,819 Heuser Mar. 16, 1948 2,628,838 Smalley Feb. 17, 1953

